Portable field-fence



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEETcE.

PETER S. CARHART, OF COLLAMER, NEW' YORK.

PORTABLE FIELD-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,549, dated September 21, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER S. CARHART, of Collamer, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification and in which- Figure l represents the fence constructed according to my improvement, in isometrical perspective; Fig. 2 a side elevation; Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section; and Figs. i and 5 details in perspective as hereinafter re ferred to.

The panels of the fence are made up of any desired number of longitudinal stringers (a) braced at either end and on opposite sides by battens or uprights (b) to and within which the longitudinal stringers may be secured by screws, nails, or bolts. Intermediate cross ties or battens may also be provided the panels at pleasure.

`lie lower extremities of the end battens are shown to project below the lowest longitudinal Stringer', and said ends are notched or stepped so as to leave projecting lips (c), which are arranged to lap down against the sides of a sill piece (B) while the upper surfaces of the steps lie on the top of said sill. In speaking of the end battens (b) as uprights, I do not mean it to be inferred that they should occupy a vertical position, for, as will be seen by reference to the drawing, it is part of my improvement they should be so arranged, or the ends of the panel so constructed, as that the panels are shorter at their top than at their bottom, to admit of each two adjacent panels, though arranged in the same vertical line or plane, rocking on the sill or being adjusted thereon in a rocking manner from their stepped bearings or lower extremities of the end battons as a center of motion and in direction of the length of the panels, to adapt the fence to varying undulations of ground, without throwing the feet of the adjacent panels or their end battens on the sill inconveniently or objectionably apart and preserving a tol erably close fit of each two panels with increased latitude at their tops, increasing from their bottoms upward in a regular ratio or thereabout to the motion at different heights from their rocking bottoms or centers of motion, for considerable adjustment of the panels to suit undulations or different heights of sill support at either end; as more clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. As a guide for this adjustment of the panels, and as a. locking butt to the panels at their bottoni against lateral strain, and to strengthen the fence generally, I nail a block (d) across the sill at its top for the two end battens at each end of either panel to receive within them; as more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and Ll. Or, instead of one block to either* sill, two blocks (cl d) shown in Fig. 5, may be used to act as side supports and guides on the outside faces of the end battens at their bottoms, instead of on the inside faces thereof as in the case of the single block, which this latter arrangement is the equivalent of.

The cross sills (B) I provide with a bent rod or strap (e), fastened at either end and at suitable distances apart to the sill and i11- clining inward upwardly on either side of the line of fence till entering where said strap is bent or doubled at its top in between the adjoining end bat-tens of each two adjacent panels, at a height above one of the upper rows of longitudinal stringers. Thus situated and arranged in connection with two adjoining panels, I insert ay key or wedge (f) along the upper edge of the stringer in the one panel. under the bent top of the strap, and on to the upper edge of the stringer in the adjoining panel, when by driving home said wedge I tighten the two panels toward each other, force them down firm on the sills, and cause the strap to act as a brace to the panels; while said wedge fastening affords a ready means for taking down or setting up expeditiously, or adjusting to suit unevenness of ground, the panels of the fence. To make yet more secure and stabl-e this portable fence which is designed to be straight in contradistinction to a Zigw zag or angular form of fence. I secure the sills to the ground, for the better protection of such straight fence against lateral strain, by stakes (9) arranged to pass through the sill in diagonal directions, inclining outwardly or inwardly downward, as shown in Figs. l, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Constructing the panels of a Aportable fence, having their bearings on sills or their expeditiously with the sill, of the key or Wedge (f), in combination with the brace or strap (e), substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to 'this specification before two subscribing Witnesses.

PETER S. CARHART.

equivalents below, shorter at their tops than l their bottoms, Substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. In Combination With panels constructed as described I claim the sills provided With one or more cross blocks arranged to project between or on either side of the end battens of the panels, to support and guide them as set forth. Y, I Vitnesses:

3. I claim the employment for tightening JAMES L. GRAHAM, up the panels and uniting'them firmly and S. RUST. 

